Microsoft revival

I just decided that I wanted to talk a bit about technology. Technology plays a big part of my life and I am constantly amazed by what engineers can put together. This post will be software related as Long Zheng on www.istartedsomething.com (link in list to the right) drew my attention to a speech by Roy Gould on TED talk (www.ted.com also in the list to the right). Roy Gould presented Microsoft's World Wide Telescope. Just like Google Earth lets you explore the Earth, the World Wide Telescope lets you explore the whole universe as a seamless 3D experience. World Wide Telescope will be downloadable from www.worldwidetelescope.org somewhere during the spring 2008.

This technology makes me think of the Seadragon and Photosynth projects which are also in progress. Check them out at www.labs.live.com. This definitely makes Microsoft look a little better after ruthless buying other competing companies. It seems like Microsoft is in a really giving mood this year. Dreamspark just kicked off this spring and students worldwide can now download expensive development software for free. All you need to do is to prove that you are a student. In Sweden this is done by surfing to www.csn-kortet.se and to link your student card number with your live-ID then go to www.downloads.channel8.msdn.com and download what you want.

As I said this makes Microsoft look better in times when Google gives away excellent software for free and alternatives to Windows, such as Linux and Mac become more competent. I am still not going to buy Vista but I am really impressed by the projects going on.

Sweden (Pictures from Europe)

I haven't seen the movie but the title is really catchy. The photos and text written are not really a universal blast from the past but rather a blast from my past, so hang on.

Welcome to the year... 2004! Well, the reason for going back just 3.5 years is that I bought my first (and only) camera that year (Mustek DV-4000). Text and stories are fun on their own but pictures really add the extra dimension to memories.

The panorama above is from Gullbranna in Halmstad, Sweden (56°35'10.37" N, 12°56'25.17" E), where we had violin camp a couple of times. Actually I don't remember that much from the camp, but it sure was beautiful.

I and my sister went to another violin camp that year: Bohus-Malmön's International Violin Course. Apart from meeting wonderful people the view was magnificent.

One thing you might observe when travelling from south to north along the west coast is that beaches will disappear and be replaced by rocks and cliffs (58°20'36.49" N, 11°20'34.61" E) and (58°20'54.06" N, 11°20'10.74" E).

The great thing with this international violin camp was that I could meet new people from other countries, such as Belgium. To be honest there were only Belgians and Swedes but still international. Another great thing when communicating with Belgian people is to have a Belgian mother. I happen to have just that.

(I have tons of more pictures but as I have not asked for my friends consent in presenting these pictures they will not be uploaded yet)

So let's see my hometown: Helsingborg.

Dunkers house of Arts in the northern part of Helsingborg (56°02'50.13" N, 12°41'19.87" E).

And the goddess of the Sea by Carl Milles is also situated in the northern parts of Helsingborg (56°02'42.01" N, 12°41'25.60" E).

And last but not least the Helsingborg Town Hall (56°02'45.93" N, 12°41'35.65" E).

Hello World

And another blog is born. Now you might want to know what you can expect of this blog. The answer is as simple as the question: nothing. That's right! Everything written on this blog is 100% subjective and you never know what I decide to write about, although you might want to rule one thing out: my present life due to the lack of interesting happenings.

Feel free to comment anything on this blog although I reserve the right of deleting any obscene comments. Updates will be up soon.

Ruben Larsson